Submissions by atarliss
POEMS AND SHORT STORIES
Poet Introduction
The only thing I know is that I write because I need to.
Blood Rubies
Scarlet glimmers of deception,
Rubies are the jewel of death.
Glist'ning with such strange seduction,
They gleam with night's dark breath.
Shining like the crimson drops
Of blood of innocent slain;
Sparkling with such dark allure,
They ring with death and pain.
Wars are fought and kingdoms fall
O'er these stones of greatest worth.
Eyes gleam with lustful greed
As these doom'd stride forth.
Dripping, gushing innocent blood,
These jewels glow with evil light.
So tempting in their scarlet glory, ...
Rubies are the jewel of death.
Glist'ning with such strange seduction,
They gleam with night's dark breath.
Shining like the crimson drops
Of blood of innocent slain;
Sparkling with such dark allure,
They ring with death and pain.
Wars are fought and kingdoms fall
O'er these stones of greatest worth.
Eyes gleam with lustful greed
As these doom'd stride forth.
Dripping, gushing innocent blood,
These jewels glow with evil light.
So tempting in their scarlet glory, ...
150 reads
8 Comments
Blossoms of Hope
Stretching far as eye can see,
A field of flowers dances in the breeze.
O’er emerald grass, a yellow sea
Of blossoms waves with glee.
They are a truly lovely sight,
A field of joy, a sea of delight.
Shining so golden and so bright,
They rival the Sun in glorious light.
Blooming golden every spring,
They truly are a beauteous thing.
A cheerful yellow, with hope they ring;
They make us yearn to dance and sing.
In their presence, no one’s cryin’,
But they seek to crush this golden Zion,
Hope to slay these...
A field of flowers dances in the breeze.
O’er emerald grass, a yellow sea
Of blossoms waves with glee.
They are a truly lovely sight,
A field of joy, a sea of delight.
Shining so golden and so bright,
They rival the Sun in glorious light.
Blooming golden every spring,
They truly are a beauteous thing.
A cheerful yellow, with hope they ring;
They make us yearn to dance and sing.
In their presence, no one’s cryin’,
But they seek to crush this golden Zion,
Hope to slay these...
113 reads
12 Comments
Trust Me
Look at you,
You've traveled so far.
You're tired and worn,
Still following your star.
Your feet have blisters,
Your hands are sore.
You seek great riches,
But you're still so poor.
Come to me, you who are weary,
And I will give you rest.
No longer will you seek and search;
You'll be happy and blessed.
I'll wipe away your tears,
Each and every one.
Come rest in me, live
In the light of my Son.
You will find peace,
Your journey will end.
You'll be safe with me,
in the company of a Friend.
...
You've traveled so far.
You're tired and worn,
Still following your star.
Your feet have blisters,
Your hands are sore.
You seek great riches,
But you're still so poor.
Come to me, you who are weary,
And I will give you rest.
No longer will you seek and search;
You'll be happy and blessed.
I'll wipe away your tears,
Each and every one.
Come rest in me, live
In the light of my Son.
You will find peace,
Your journey will end.
You'll be safe with me,
in the company of a Friend.
...
121 reads
4 Comments
Spoiled Rose
The rose was red as scarlet,
Haughty and proud.
She grew up tall and elegant,
Prettiest of all around.
At first she was quite humble,
Sweet and fair and nice.
But then she learned her own beauty,
And her heart turned to ice.
She grew thorns upon her stem,
To stab and poke at others.
Convinced she was fairest of all,
She never gave a bother.
Soon others grew to hate her;
With her perfect petals and stem,
She still possessed unrivaled beauty,
But it was spoiled in eyes of them.
She became prouder still,
More...
Haughty and proud.
She grew up tall and elegant,
Prettiest of all around.
At first she was quite humble,
Sweet and fair and nice.
But then she learned her own beauty,
And her heart turned to ice.
She grew thorns upon her stem,
To stab and poke at others.
Convinced she was fairest of all,
She never gave a bother.
Soon others grew to hate her;
With her perfect petals and stem,
She still possessed unrivaled beauty,
But it was spoiled in eyes of them.
She became prouder still,
More...
83 reads
4 Comments
Dawn of Night
The Sun hangs low in the Western sky,
An angry, broiling red.
My heart slumps low with it too;
I am pained and saddened.
All day I and Sun
Had waltzed free together.
We blazed so bright, scorching all,
Burning every tether.
We'd risen together that morning,
Fresh and cool for a new day.
But although my heart was pure and sweet,
Sun was not perfect in every way.
We danced together in the East,
Setting golden fire to gray.
I was full of freedom and joy,
Wrapped tight in Sun's rays.
But as we reached the zenith...
An angry, broiling red.
My heart slumps low with it too;
I am pained and saddened.
All day I and Sun
Had waltzed free together.
We blazed so bright, scorching all,
Burning every tether.
We'd risen together that morning,
Fresh and cool for a new day.
But although my heart was pure and sweet,
Sun was not perfect in every way.
We danced together in the East,
Setting golden fire to gray.
I was full of freedom and joy,
Wrapped tight in Sun's rays.
But as we reached the zenith...
88 reads
2 Comments
Words of Magic
My words are magical things,
Gifts from the Above.
They can fly and dance and sing,
And tell of hate and love.
My words can be cold as stone,
Tell of fear and hate.
They can drip with a dreary morning’s rain,
And weep with terrible fate.
My words can be soft and sweet,
They can nourish and blossom and bloom.
They can smile with the Sun above,
Laugh free from fear and doom.
My words can be wild and free,
Tell of things ne'er seen before.
They spirit me off to many a place,
Past many a...
Gifts from the Above.
They can fly and dance and sing,
And tell of hate and love.
My words can be cold as stone,
Tell of fear and hate.
They can drip with a dreary morning’s rain,
And weep with terrible fate.
My words can be soft and sweet,
They can nourish and blossom and bloom.
They can smile with the Sun above,
Laugh free from fear and doom.
My words can be wild and free,
Tell of things ne'er seen before.
They spirit me off to many a place,
Past many a...
110 reads
6 Comments
Natural Joy
I’d love to fly like the eagle,
Soar high above the magnificent plain.
I’d love to feel the wind in my feathers,
Dance above all misery and pain.
I’d love to run like the deer,
Dashing through forest and fern.
I’d love to leap o’er every stone and log,
Fleeing from every concern.
I’d love to swim like the shark,
Twisting and turning with grace.
I’d love to glide into the depths forever more,
Sail on through endless space.
I’d love to jump like the kangaroo,
Bouncing through desert and tree.
I’d love to leap...
Soar high above the magnificent plain.
I’d love to feel the wind in my feathers,
Dance above all misery and pain.
I’d love to run like the deer,
Dashing through forest and fern.
I’d love to leap o’er every stone and log,
Fleeing from every concern.
I’d love to swim like the shark,
Twisting and turning with grace.
I’d love to glide into the depths forever more,
Sail on through endless space.
I’d love to jump like the kangaroo,
Bouncing through desert and tree.
I’d love to leap...
105 reads
6 Comments
The Fountain's Grace
There was a fountain, pure and clean,
Filled with fresh spring rain.
The water was clear and sweet,
Free of fear and pain.
My face was sore and dirty,
caked with grime and mud.
My hands were torn and aching too,
smeared with drying blood.
I wandered to the fountain,
And yearned at the sight.
My lips were parched and hands were dirty,
Yet it couldn’t be right
To dirty this pure fountain;
Whose waters were so sweet.
I couldn’t ruin its perfect flow,
Its cool joy I couldn’t mistreat. ...
Filled with fresh spring rain.
The water was clear and sweet,
Free of fear and pain.
My face was sore and dirty,
caked with grime and mud.
My hands were torn and aching too,
smeared with drying blood.
I wandered to the fountain,
And yearned at the sight.
My lips were parched and hands were dirty,
Yet it couldn’t be right
To dirty this pure fountain;
Whose waters were so sweet.
I couldn’t ruin its perfect flow,
Its cool joy I couldn’t mistreat. ...
84 reads
4 Comments
Dark Rose
My rose should be a pretty thing,
Should be a tender, scarlet red.
But it’s a dark and misty gray;
Shines with tears instead.
It was once a playful pink,
Glowing with the light of day.
It bloomed in happy innocence,
Perfect in every way.
But the cruel storms rolled in,
Angry clouds covered the sky,
Rained harsh hailstones on my rose;
It suffered with a sigh.
And when the sullen sunlight
Finally leaked through the clouds,
It found my rose bruised and battered,...
Should be a tender, scarlet red.
But it’s a dark and misty gray;
Shines with tears instead.
It was once a playful pink,
Glowing with the light of day.
It bloomed in happy innocence,
Perfect in every way.
But the cruel storms rolled in,
Angry clouds covered the sky,
Rained harsh hailstones on my rose;
It suffered with a sigh.
And when the sullen sunlight
Finally leaked through the clouds,
It found my rose bruised and battered,...
197 reads
12 Comments
Teardrops of the Sky
You ask me why I wail and cry?
I'm weeping with the darkened sky;
Crystal teardrops from on high
Mixing and mingling with mine.
You ask me why I groan and whine?
I'm moaning with the wind;
Writhing and twisting, forward and behind
In terrible anguish of mind.
You ask me why I roar and crash?
I'm rolling with the thunder's smash;
Tearing the sky with lightning's flash,
Burning all that's dry to ash.
You ask me why I rip and roil?
I'm writhing with the water's boil;
Washing away all grime and...
I'm weeping with the darkened sky;
Crystal teardrops from on high
Mixing and mingling with mine.
You ask me why I groan and whine?
I'm moaning with the wind;
Writhing and twisting, forward and behind
In terrible anguish of mind.
You ask me why I roar and crash?
I'm rolling with the thunder's smash;
Tearing the sky with lightning's flash,
Burning all that's dry to ash.
You ask me why I rip and roil?
I'm writhing with the water's boil;
Washing away all grime and...
103 reads
4 Comments
Blood on the Piano Keys
She was a perfect summer rose,
Beautiful and proud.
But now she’s slumped on the piano’s seat,
Weeping without a sound.
Cruel words, terrible words,
Have brought her to her knees.
Mean words, ugly words—
This is what she flees.
The piano’s the only solace,
In her dark and lonely life.
Everywhere she knows and loves
Is filled with constant strife.
Her fingers dance without flaw,
As they waltz on the keys.
Blood and tears mix with rhythms
Of elegant melodies.
Wilted rose though she is,
It’s...
Beautiful and proud.
But now she’s slumped on the piano’s seat,
Weeping without a sound.
Cruel words, terrible words,
Have brought her to her knees.
Mean words, ugly words—
This is what she flees.
The piano’s the only solace,
In her dark and lonely life.
Everywhere she knows and loves
Is filled with constant strife.
Her fingers dance without flaw,
As they waltz on the keys.
Blood and tears mix with rhythms
Of elegant melodies.
Wilted rose though she is,
It’s...
171 reads
8 Comments
The Lament of Calpurnia
Beware the Ides of March!” I said,
But Caesar did not heed.
“You will not go to the Senate!” I begged,
Yet he ignored my pleas.
Yes, I, Calpurnia, his wife,
Tried to stop him that day.
Tried to keep him from the Senate and save his life,
But he would have it no other way.
I’d dreamt a terrible dream that night,
Wake’d sweating in my bed.
Ghouls and goblins had given me a fright,
“Beware the Ides of March!” they said.
I plead and I begged for it to be another way,
But before my very eyes,
They took my beloved...
But Caesar did not heed.
“You will not go to the Senate!” I begged,
Yet he ignored my pleas.
Yes, I, Calpurnia, his wife,
Tried to stop him that day.
Tried to keep him from the Senate and save his life,
But he would have it no other way.
I’d dreamt a terrible dream that night,
Wake’d sweating in my bed.
Ghouls and goblins had given me a fright,
“Beware the Ides of March!” they said.
I plead and I begged for it to be another way,
But before my very eyes,
They took my beloved...
96 reads
4 Comments
DU Poetry : Submissions by atarliss